NELLORE: Price of onions seem to be skyrocketing over the past few days. The onion prices increased by over 50 percent in the past four days in the district. Onions were previously being sold for `20 to `25 per kg, and now the price has shot up to ` 60 per kg. The sudden rise in prices has been attributed to decrease in imports and the local produce is not sufficient to meet the demand of onions in the district.
Normally, the district imports onions from Maharashtra and Kurnool markets. Retail traders procure onions from Maharashtra.
“Onions are being sold for `60 per kg at retail shops for the last two days. We have reduced the usage of onions in our daily cooking,” said K Sulochana, a resident of NTR Nagar. As the season for onions in Maharashtra has come to an end, imports from that State have declined to the district. Usually, Stone house pet market in Nellore imports 15 to 20 trucks with around 80 to 100 tonnes of onions on daily basis.
Now, only 10 trucks of onions are being imported from other States due to the low produce.“We have no business for the last four days. Consumers who purchase 2 to 3 kg of onions normally, are now buying 500 grams only due to the steep rise in price,” said A Rehman, a retail trader from AC market.